NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt’s offense was slowed Sunday as North Dakota State won 5-2 in the series finale to avoid the sweep.
Mike Mancini provided Vandy’s lone runs of the game with a two-run blast to center field in the bottom of the fifth.
The Commodores put the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but the Bison held on to win by three.
North Dakota State took its first lead of the series with a walk, single and an RBI single in the top of the first to go up 1-0.
The Bison used small ball to double their lead in the top of the fourth. Three bunts, including two for hits, led to an RBI groundout for the second run of the game.
North Dakota State loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, but Jakob Schulz came out of the bullpen for Vandy and limited the damage to just one run as the Bison took a 3-0 lead.
Mancini launched a two-out, two-run jack in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game. Mancini has three home runs this season and 24 for his career.
North Dakota State took advantage of a hit-by-pitch and a walk, poking a pair of RBI singles in the top of the seventh to go up three.
Vanderbilt put runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs, but a fly ball to left was caught as the visitors held on to win 5-2 and avoid a series sweep.
Zak Szabo earned the win for the Bison, going 4.1 innings out of the bullpen. Szabo held Vandy scoreless on just three hits.
The Commodores are back home Tuesday against Indiana State at 6 p.m. before starting SEC action against LSU next weekend at Hawkins Field.
